Archive for December, 2007
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Contractualization Main Culprit in Decline of Unionism in the Philippines
The prevalent practice of contractualization has been the main culprit in the reduction of union membership on a national scale. Without a union, workers’ rights are easily violated.
BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO
Bulatlat
The Ilaw at Buklod ng Manggagawa (IBM or Workers’ Light and Unity) – the union of workers of the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) conglomerate, the [...]
Shock, dismay and outrage were the immediate reactions of the relatives and survivors of the “Palo Massacre” with the adversarial resolution released by the provincial prosecutor on the criminal complaints that they filed against the military-perpetrators.
BY JOHANN HEIN B. ARPON
Bulatlat
Shock, dismay and outrage were the immediate reactions of the relatives and survivors of the “Palo [...]
Events in 2007 show that the political crisis that almost resulted in the ouster of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration in 2005 is far from being resolved. It has, in fact, worsened in 2007 as old issues continue to hound it and new scandals have emerged.
BY BENJIE OLIVEROS
Bulatlat
The Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration must have expected a calmer year [...]
The contentious events surrounding the history of the land struggle of the Sumilao farmers once more brings to fore the failure of CARP to address the problem of landlessness in the country and the need for a new land reform law.
BY DABET CASTANEDA
Bulatlat
The Sumilao farmers may be happy over Malacanang’s decision placing, for the second [...]
By Jose Rizal
The evil is not that indolence exists more or less latently but that it is fostered and magnified. Among men, as well as among nations, there exist not only aptitudes but also tendencies toward good and evil…. The evil is that the indolence in the Philippines is a magnified indolence… an evil that increases in direct proportion to the square of the periods of time, an effect of misgovernment and of backwardness, as we said, and not a cause thereof.
By Luis V. Teodoro
As if to announce to the country and the world that being attacked for doing their jobs is still a fact of journalists’ lives in the Philippines, an assassin riding pillion on a motorcycle shot dead a radio broadcaster in Davao City last Christmas eve.
Francisco Lintuan was killed in his car when [...]
By Fr. Shay CUllen
The Christmas story of my childhood was one of sweetness and light. It was a story of the birth of baby Jesus. We learned of a helpless child in the manger surrounded by caring and loving parents and animals. The choir of angels was singing Hallelujah. I liked the three kings bringing [...]
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Nene” Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today expressed concern that an episode in the film “Sakal Sakali Saklolo” is conveying a wrong message to Filipinos by seemingly denigrating the use of the Visayan language, which is most widely spoken in the Visayas and large parts of Mindanao.
Pimentel specifically cited a portion of [...]
The murder of Davao broadcaster Ferdie “Batman” Lintuan on Christmas eve has once again brought to the fore the issue of the Davao Death Squad, especially after authorities said it might be behind the killing. Davao CIty Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who has publicly praised the Davao Death Squad, has denied that he was behind the [...]
By CARLOS H. CONDE
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
(Part Two)
DAVAO CITY — In 2000 and 2001, Davao City was adjudged the country’s “Most Child-Friendly City” by the National Council for the Welfare of Children, a government body under the Office of the President.
This year, however, Davao failed to get the recognition because of what local officials [...]
By CARLOS H. CONDE
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
(Part One)
DAVAO CITY — In one of the many hovels crammed inside Bankerohan, this city’s largest public market, Christmas is about to come and go unnoticed once more. While the Alia family is no stranger to a joyless Christmas, this year’s yuletide has been exceptionally sad. The family [...]
A Media Statement of Condemnation
It is with very deep remorse and extreme sadness that we, the officers and members of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP Davao City & Region XI Chapters) in concert with our colleagues from the other media groups collectively condemn today’s brutal slaying of fellow broadcaster/newsman Fernando ‘Ferdie/Batman’ [...]
Below is a press release and a statement released by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
DUTERTE ASKS POLICE TO LOOK INTO ALL ANGLES IN BROADCASTER’S KILLING
Davao City – Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte blasted certain politicians in Davao for insinuating that City Hall could have had a hand in the killing of radio broadcaster Fernando “Ferdie” [...]
By Prof. JOSE MARIA SISON
Chief Political Consultant
National Democratic Frontof the Philippines
It is understandable why there is no ceasefire between the armed forces of the Government of the Republicof the Philippines (GRP) and those of the National Democratic Frontof the Philippines (NDFP) during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal,spokesperson of the Communist Party [...]
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) asked the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to also help the majority of landless peasants in the country. The group said that the Sumilao case is just the tip of the Philippine land problem. According [...]
Political Bloodbath Continues: Widow of Slain Activist Shot Dead New Wave of Protests Against Charter Change Set in April Comelec’s Automation to Worsen Election Fraud — Watchdog 2008: Another Bad Year for the Philippine Press ‘Unemployment Figures Wrong; Number of Jobless Higher’ ‘Nicole Is Not the Enemy’ ‘Nicole’: ‘My Conscience Bothers Me’ Why Globe Broadband Sucks Big Time Is the Call Center Industry a Bright Spot for New Graduates? 6 Great Ways to Vent Your Frustrations Eating Dirt Is Actually Good For Children Australia Offers 150 Scholarship Slots for Philippines, Asia-Pacific Why Globe Broadband Sucks Big Time
Globe Sucks: Grabe na talaga tong globe broadband ang panget ng service. Ang bilis ma disconnect ang tagal maka... marlon: Hi im marlon reyes of legal age married with 10 years. but until now my wife seek for a child. can you send... Jeanalyn: we have same inquiry of joel medrano but this time..I am jeanalyn legal age with 1 adopted child. and... rjlat: i think kailangan na natin ng bagong mamumuno sa ating gobyerno. ung isang presedente na magtatakda ng mas... ‘Martsa Kontra Cha-cha’ Set What Are 1109, 9006, and 9369 in Arroyo’s Agenda? Environmentalists Slam Arroyo’s Sellout of Lands to Foreigners Recruiting Militants in Southern Thailand New Round of Oil Price Hikes Hit Greenpeace Water Patrol Dismantles Blockade It’s Battle of Good Vs Evil, Church Leaders Say of Cha-cha Fight Satur: Nograles to Blame for Dispersal of Peasant Camp-Out Philippines: A Journalist on Army Target List, Another Shot, Possibly by Soldier In the Philippines, Targeting Journalists
"Sampayan ng Bayan". During its Third Congress on March 27-28, 2009, members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-US Chapter staged protest actions against RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement through a "Sampayan ng Bayan" where a clothesline with painted shirts spelling out "JUNK VFA" was wrapped around General MacArthur's statue in Los Angeles, California. (Photo courtesy of Bayan-US)
CANDLES FOR BILLANES Members of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE) and other multisectoral groups held a candle lighting activity on March 13, 2009 at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani to denounce the increasing number of extrajudicial killings in the country; the most recent was environmentalist and anti-mining activist Eliezer Billanes. (Photo by Kalikasan-PNE)
Goodbye, Rebelyn Thousands joined the funeral march for Rebelyn Pitao, the daughter of a top Communist leader, in Davao City on Saturday. The protesters demanded justice for the schoolteacher, who was brutally murdered allegedly by military agents. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan)
PROTEST OVER REBELYN. Hong Kong human rights groups condemn the abduction, torture, rape and killing of Rebelyn Pitao in a picket protest held on March 11, 2009 at the Philippine Consulate General. (Photo courtesy of BAYAN-Hong Kong)
BERDUGO. Posters accusing the 10th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as "berdugo" (butcher) are posted in major streets in Davao City. The New People's Army (NPA) accused the 10th ID to be behind the killing of 20-year old Rebelyn Pitao, daughter of NPA rebel leader Leoncio Pitao. (Photo by Ruby Thursday More/AKP Images)
Around 10,000 members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) gathered at the football field of Agro-Industrial Foundation College of the Philippines in Davao City on Saturday, March 7, 2009 for their 3rd Grand Summit Gathering with MNLF founding chair Prof. Nur Misuari. Some of the MNLF members traveled from as far away as Zamboanga provinces just for the half day gathering. (Photo by Keith Bacongco/AKP Images)
Teachers Demand Better Wages. Dozens of public-school teachers take to the street of Manila to demand better wages. They also criticized a proposed law that would give soldiers better salaries than those in the civilian bureaucracy. (Photo by arkibongbayan.org)
Beach Boy. A taho (soybean custard) vendor plies his trade in a seemingly desolate landscape, which is actually a beach in Opol, Misamis Oriental. (Photo by Ayi Muallam/PinoyPress)
Lumad Protest. Some 200 indigenous peoples coming from different parts of Mindanao staged a protest at the gate of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Eastern Mindanao Command in Panacan, Davao City, on Monday, March 2, 2009, to denounce the human-rights abuses allegedly perpetrated by the military in the indigenous communities. They also called for the repeal of the Mining Act. (Photo by Keith Bacongco/AKP Images)
Ban Balikatan. Activists from the group BAN Balikatan in Bicol held protest rallies on Feb. 25 to denounce the holding of the US-Philippine Balikatan exercises in the region. They criticized President Arroyo for being a "puppet" of Washington. (Photo courtesy of arkibongbayan.org)
NO to BNPP. Members of the Network Opposed "NO" to Bataan Nuclear Power Plant Revival ask members of the House of Representatives not to support House Bill 4631 which calls for the revival of the mothballed nuclear plant. Environmental and Civil society groups question the safety of nuclear power plants and instead call for the full implementation of the recently passed Renewable Energy Bill. (Photo by Gigie Cruz/AKP Images)
